What the Statistics Say About Cyber Bullying

According to McAfee’s, “2014 Teens and the Screen study: Exploring Online Privacy, Social Networking and Cyberbullying,”

52% of students have reported having experienced some form of cyberbullying. Of these, 20% experience electronic harassment on a regular basis.
87% of young respondents have witnessed cyberbullying. This is a staggering increase from 2013’s numbers which showed only 27% have seen cyberbullying at work.
27% of respondents have also admitted not knowing what to do if personally attacked online.
The Cyberbullying Research Center released that a survey done in 2015 among middle school students aged 11-15 years old reveal that 34% of their respondents have been cyber bullied with threatening text messages, online gossip, hurtful comments online, and fraping. Usually, there is a close relationship between traditional bullying and cyberbullying in that those who are bullied in school are also harassed online. Conversely, traditional bullies are often online bullies as well.

It is worth noting that 52% of electronically bullied kids do not report their situation to their parents.

Most kids feel older people do not understand their culture or situation and that they may not be able to adequately explain it without repercussions.

Other statistics from i-Safe Inc, Bitdefender, The National Crime Prevention Center, Cyberbullying.us, and like institutions show these facts:

○ About 1 in 3 teenagers have been intimidated online
19-year old boys seem to be the largest age group targeted
○ 60% of teenagers never report cyberbullying to the relevant social media site administrators. Less than 1 in 5 incidents are reported to law enforcement.
○ With social media apps, girls are more likely than boys to be the cyber bullies. Boys tend to favor online gaming venues for bullying.
○ As the cellphone is the most regularly used gadget, it is also the most common medium in cyberbullying.

The Danger

As the digital world never sleeps, online intimidation can be much more extensive than traditional bullying because unlike the old-fashioned type, the harassment may occur constantly, many times, 24/7. Cyberbullying is regarded as a mode of teen violence, the repercussions of which have proven to be serious. Many victims admit to feeling very depressed, helpless, and worthless. Some have entertained serious suicidal thoughts. What’s more, there are a number of actual suicides linked to cyberbullying, such as the cases of Ryan Halligan (2003), Megan Meier (2006), and Amanda Cummings (2011), to name a few.

Although cyberbullying may not be the main culprit behind tragic incidents, yet it can be contributory. Parents need to be aware of cyberbullying because this form is more hidden than real-life physical bullying. In addition to the psychological hurt it can cause a teenager, bullying in this digital age can damage social reputation. Because of the public nature of the humiliation and belittling that often characterize internet bullying, such actions can pose lasting detrimental effects on young people.

For more information on cyberbullying and how to protect your children from it, click here.